How to Open the Current File's Folder in Notepad ? (File Explorer Shortcut)

Alt F5 can open the folder where the currently saved file is located with one click. Unsaved files (with * in the title) will not take effect; you can also customize the shortcut keys through "Run → explorer $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)". The native solution is more stable and reliable than NppExec.

How to open the folder where the current file is located in Notepad with one click

Directly press Alt F5 , which is Notepad's built-in shortcut key for "opening the directory where the current file is located in the resource manager". No plug-ins are required and no external scripts are required.

Why does Alt F5 sometimes not respond?

The common reason is not that the shortcut keys are invalid, but that the current document has not been saved - Alt F5 is only effective for saved files. If there is an asterisk (*) at the end of the tab title, it means that it is unsaved temporary content and Notepad does not know which path to open.

• Files that have been created but not saved: shortcut keys are not triggered at all
• Saved but the path contains Chinese characters or spaces: It usually does not affect it and Windows Explorer can handle it normally.
• The file is still being edited after it has been moved or deleted: Alt F5 will try to open the original path, and a "location unavailable" prompt may pop up.

What should I do if I want to use the right-click menu or customize shortcut keys?

Notepad does not natively provide right-click menu items, but you can add custom commands through the "Run" menu, which essentially calls explorer.exe :

• Click Run → Run... in the menu bar and enter: explorer $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)
• Click "Save...", give it a name such as "Open Folder", and assign a shortcut key (such as Ctrl Shift E )
• $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY) is a built-in variable of Notepad, which is only effective when there is a saving path; $(FULL_CURRENT_PATH) will locate the file itself, not the folder

The plug-in solution (NppExec) is prone to problems

Some people use NppExec to execute cmd /c start "" "$(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)" , but this adds an extra layer of cmd startup, which may cause a black window, slow response, and occasional permission interception on Windows 11. Native Alt F5 or explorer $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY) is more lightweight and reliable.

What is really easy to overlook is: this function only recognizes the "currently active document". If you have multiple tabs open, it will not care which line the cursor is on, but only which tab is active.

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